Air gun breech magazine



Oct. 7, 1952 W. s. WELLS 2,612,888

AIR GUN BREECH MAGAZINE Original Filed Aug. 21, 1944 Fig L l 7 f v [47 yf [/29/4/ //39 Q /43 f4; /37 /23 INVENTOR. WILL/AM S. WEL/.5

BY 73u@ f Ww H/s ATTORNEYS My' invention relates Patented Oct. 7, 1952 AIR GUN BREECHYMAGAZINE William S. Wells, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor to Paul S. Linforth, San Francisco, Calif. l Original application August Z1, r1944, Serial No.

550,440. Divided and this application July 12,v 1948, Serial No. 38,349

to guns, and more particularly to loading means for guns powered by yair'un'd'er compression. `rAmong the objects of my invention are:

' (l) To provide a novelv and improved autoimatic feed in an air gun;

' (2) 'To provide a novel and improved air gun holding a plurality of shot and embodying feeding or loading means assuring placement of one shot at a timev at the firing position;

(3) To provide a novel and improved air gun the number of shot available in the gun for firing,

`before reloading becomes necessary; A

(4) To provide a novel and improved air gun vcapable of ,exceedingly fast resetting action betweensuccessive firings of the gun.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- .Figure 1 is an enlarged View, for the most .part in section, of the operating mechanism a the breech portion of the gun;

-Figure 2 and Figure 2A include top 'and side views `of the Vmagazine and feed assembly of .Figure 1, aportion of Fig. 2 being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, my gun comprises ya :stock-I into which is .mounted an assembly including a gun barrel 3, a compressed air storage A l chamber is closed b ya valve assembly 25 forming part of the breechvmechanism.

As previously stated, the compressed air storage chamber is closed off at the breech end, by a valve assembly 25 which controls the air discharge of the gun. -This valve assembly includes a plug 3 Claims. (Cl. 124-53) A`of the repeater type, having means for indicating 69 having a'passage therethrough, one portion of which, located at the storage chamber end, is of a smaller diameter than the other portion, to provide Va shoulder 1|. The smaller diameter portion is adapted to receive an open end of a valve cage I3 to support the same, while the other Vendof the cage is provided with a base I5 having an opening 'I'I therethrough to establish communication between the storage chamber and the yinterior of the valve cage. This valve cage houses -a valvel I9 having a fiat surface preferably STATES covered with a disk 8| of sealing'm'aterial such as leather, rubber or the"like, and is further possessed of an integral skirt 83slidably engaging the inner -wall of the'cage and 'adapted toy enclose a valve biasing 'spring 85 inserted between the valve 'I9 and the cage bottom 15. i

A plurality of perforations 91 through thevalve at points distributed about the valve disk 8|, provides for substantially free flow of compressed air from behind the valve, as well as facilitating movement of the valve substantially unopposed except for .the biasing 'spring |35.- i.v v1 The valve seat associated with the aforementioned valve is formed by a'conical recess in the end of an extension 89 on ablock 9| receivable in the passage of the plug 69; This valve block is of cylindrical vsl'lapefwhose diameter is approximately that of the smaller diameter portion of the passage. This block is provided with a circumferential ribf93 of outside diameter sufcient -to'snugly fit the portion ofy the passage of larger diameter. ,e l I A longitudinal bore throughthe block19|gin alignment with the conical recess rprovidesin cooperation with such conical recess, afpassage for `the reception of an independent valveistern 95 having a conical head 91 adjacent thevalve disk 8|, the rstern being of such awlength-,asgto extend beyond the connesof .the block tothe rear thereof.- `The exposed end of fthe stem -is provided with an abutment 99 for receiving the impact of a hammer IUI, forming part ":ofaa trigger controlled hammer assembly tobegdescribed, whereby to effect momentary opening of the firing valve '|9. l Between the valve 'I9 Aand block 9| there is formed an annular chamber |02 surrounding the valve seat. This` chamber placesf a measured amount of air under compression at the .lvalve seat ready forinstant discharge upon'opening of the valve, and is adapted to be recharged'ata rate dependent upon the size and numbercof perforations 81 through-*the valve. Prior to assembling the 'block' 9|, suitable gaskets |03 and |05 are. disposed thereabouton each side of the rib, and following the'insertion of the block, the same is fixed in place with'the gaskets under compression, by a hollow cylindrical nut |01 surrounding the block 9| and threadedly receivable in the end of the plug 09. The stem passage is enlarged adjacentthe v conical recess to form' in cooperation with a radial vbore |09 through the rib'93 and yplug (i9,v a

passageway for the release'of a charge of compressed air, upon opening of the firing valve 19.

In the breech block I5, I form a well I I atthe termination of the tube I1 and substantially n'o'iby threading into a recess in the breech blocka z machine screw I I1 which has been hollowed out to a height capable of permitting communicationA with the tube I1 through a side opening..- The diameter of the feed or loading passage, and the internal diameter of the wellshould correspond with the diameter of the shot to be handled by the gun.

Mounted on and extending to the rear of `the breech block l5 is a magazine and feed assembly ||9. This assembly includes an outer tube or --housing I2| closed by a removableend plug |23. -Within-the housing, lthere is provided a tube |25 extending from the rear of the breech block and constituting a continuation of the lateral feed passage ||5. This tube is formed with a slit |21 from its rea-r edge, whereby such tube is adapted vto receive a breech pin I 29 having a n |3I extending through the slit. g

The breech pin is formed with a rearwardly'exvtending tail pin I33Son which may be mounted a coil spring |35 of a diameter adapted for insertion in the tube |25 with the breech pin. When placed under compression 'by the application of ranadjusting nut' |31 threaded into the: end of the tube, this-spring acts as a biasing means normally 4urging-the breechpin through the loading passage I I5 toward the well I I.

Supported on the upper .surface of the breech pin tube'is-a magazine inthe formof .a'channel |39 having closed ends Abut communicating with housing |2I and having a depending lip |41 in the filling .opening for limiting movement of the cover.`

In effecting ltransfer of the shot from the magazine channel |39 to the feed or loading passage |I5, the breech pin |29 is retracted against the Vaction of the biasing spring |35, suiiiciently Ato expose the connecting opening |4I. 'Provision .is made for such retraction of the breech pin by pivotally mounting a spring biased thumb control |49 to the'fin. |3|, access to which is had 'through a side opening |5| in the housing provided for this purpose.

An important feature in lconnection vwith the feeding mechanism of my gun is the disposition inthe well of an elevator plug |53 `of a height suiiicient to bring its upper surface to the lower edge of the loading passage I|5. This' elevator plug is of slightly less diameter than the internal diameter of the well and has its upper edge beveled.

leave the well by way of the gun barrel under any position in which the gun may normally be carried. Upon opening of the ring valve 19, the full effect of the discharge of compressed air will be'initiallyvdirected against the bottom of the plug and cause the same to rise and elevate the shot to the level of the tube I1, the compressed air blast in the meantime escaping around the plug and bringing its full force to bear against the shot to discharge the same with considerable velocity from the gun.

The function of this plug in the gun is manii fold. When resting on the bottom ofthe well, it

normally covers up the end of the compressed air discharge passage and is adapted to receive and support one shot from the loading passage, as placed thereon by the action of the breech pin. In this position, the shot has little opportunity to In thuselevating the shot, the plug serves the added purpose of automatically blocking off the loadingvpassage I I5, thereby precluding the entranceof a secondshot while the first one is being discharged. Thus the possibility of erratic operation of the gun whereby the same may re two or more shots simultaneously, is positively precluded, and not until the elevator plug again drops to the bottom of the well can the breech pin function to urge an additional shot into firing'position in the well. The return of the elevator plug to the bottom of the well and the placing of ashot thereon is facilitated by the beveled edge on the plug which enables the breech pinto aid inthe return of the plug and at the same timemore quicklyy position the next shot, Thus rapid .loading of the gun with one Ashot at a time, is effectively assured. v I

; A'feature of my gun for use in connection with the loading or feeding mechanism is the provision of indicatingtvmeans for informing a gunner asto the number of shots present in the loading vpassage |'|5 at any time. For this purpose I provide an indicia strip |53 above the thumb control, this Astrip to contain numbers indicating the number of shots in the loading passage for the various positions'taken of the thumb control, as the shots are vdischarged from the gun. Thus if the loading passage normally holds seven shots when lled, the .numbers on the indicia strip will run from `one to seven, and the location of some indicating or identifying mark on the thumb control such as the pin |55 which holds the same to the nn, will indicatewith reference to this strip. the number of shots remaining in the gun for firing, before refilling of the loading passage becomes necessary.

` Unintentional retraction' of the thumb control, or recoil of the breech pinin response to the discharge blast when firing the gun, is precluded by .providing a series of ratchet teeth |51 in the side of the breech pin tube 1I 25 into which the tail end of the thumb control may ride.

The velocity with which a shot leaves the gun is a function of the'suddenness with which the air under compression may be released behind suchshot. The efficiency of operation of a gun is a function of the economy with which the air under compression is metered out in the firing of the shots from the gun. Both a high velocity of discharge and a high efficiency of operation are realized in my gun through the cooperation between the previously described firing valve assembly 25 and a novel and improved trigger mechanism |59 which I will now describe.

Such trigger mechanism involves a supporting frame |6| mounted in the stock at the trigger position, andinclude's a cylindrical bore |63 .behind and in substantial alignment with the ilrlng valve pin 95, for slidably receiving the hammer 0I having a circumferential groove |61 and provided with a tail lpin |69. The tail pin is inserted through a sleeve I1| having a flange |13 abutting against the rear end of the hammer, such sleeve protruding through a closure plug at the rear of the cylindrical bore and provided with a nut |11 to limit forward movement of the sleeve in the bore.

A compression spring |19 about the sleeve between the flange |13 and the closure plug |15 normally urges the hammer to a forward position in the bore, in contact with the valve stem abutment 99. Such contact, however, is designed to be wholly ineffective to overcome the compressive force of the ring valve spring 85, and thus the abutment 99 fixes the normal position of the hammer.

The trigger |8| is disposed below the hammer and is slidably supported between depending end portions |83 and |85 of the frame, the forward end portion |63 being slotted to slidably receive a strip |81 to which the trigger is affixed, while the rear end portion is drilled to slidably receive a rod |89 extending from the trigger. A compression spring |9| about the rod |89, normally positions the trigger at the forward end of its permissible travel.

Pivotally mounted on the strip and spring biased into engagement with the peripheral groove |61 in the hammer through a slot |93 in the lower portion of the bore wall, is an angularly bent finger |95 whose engagement in the groove is such as to enable retraction of the hammer in response to a pull on the trigger.

At some intermediate point in travel of the trigger, this finger comes into engagement with the edge of the slot which is preferably beveled, and is thereby disengaged from the groove in the hammer, thus releasing the hammer. Under the action of its compression spring, the hammer is driven forward against the valve stem abutment 99 with sufficient impact to momentarily overcome the normally predominant compression force of the valve rspring 85 and cause a sudden and momentary opening of the firing valve 19. The presenceof a charge of compressed air in the chamber |02, between the valve 19 and the valve seat block, permits of instantaneous release of such charge with minimum loss during such momentary opening of the valve.

Upon completion of the impact by the hammer, immediate restoration thereof to its normal position is assured by the valve spring 85, so that by the time the trigger is permitted to return to its rest position, the hammer will be in position to again be engaged by the trigger and prepared for another operation.` The perforationsA 81 are sufficient in number and size to recharge the chamber |62 in such brief interva1 of time. Thus the gun is adapted for rapid successive firing, limited only by the rapidity with which the gunner can pull the trigger.

Of importance also in this connection is the fact that the movement of the trigger is linear instead of pivotal. This is conducive to more accurate aiming and firing of the gun, since finger pressure is along a line parallel to the line of sight and thus not apt to upset ones aim in firing the gun.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will become apparent that my novel and improved gun embodies many features of importance, all contributing to fulll the objects as set forth previously. While I have described my invention in considerable detail, the same is subject to alteration and modication, without departing from the underlying principles embodied therein, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details disclosed and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an air gun, a breech block having a feed passage therethrough leading to the loading position of a shot in said gun; a tubular housing extending rearwardly from said breech block and having a longitudinal opening therein, a tube extending rearwardly from said breech block within said housing and constituting a continuation of said feed passage, said tube having a longitudinal slit therein in registry with said housing opening, a breech pin in said feed passage and having a fin protruding through said slit, spring means behind said breech pin urging the same toward such loading position, a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed along the slit portion of said tube, and a thumb control pivotally secured to said iin and having a tail section removably engageable in said ratchet teeth.

2. In an air gun, a breech block having `a feed passage therethrough leading to the loading position of a shot in said gun; a tubular housing extending rearwardly from said breech block and having a side opening therein, a plurality of indicia along the edge of said side opening, a tube extending rearwardly from said breech block within said housing and constituting a continuation of said feed passage, said tube having a longitudinal slit therein in registry with said housing side opening, a breech pin in said feed passage and having a fin protruding through said slit, spring means behind said breech pin urging the same toward such loading position, a thumb control secured to said n, and means on said thumb control for cooperation with said indicia to indicate the number of shot in said feed passage.

3. In an air gun, a breech block having a feed passage therethrough leading to the loading position of a shot in said gun; a tubular housing extending rearwardly from said breech block and having a side opening therein, a tube extending rearwardly from said breech block within said housing and constituting a, continuation of said feed passage, said tube having a longitudinal slit therein in registry with said housing side opening, a breech pin in said feed passage and having a iin protruding through said slit, spring means behind said breech pin urging the same toward such loading position, an adjusting screw in the end of said tube and in pressure engagement with said spring means, a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed along the slit portion of said tube, and a thumb control pivotally secured to said iin andhaving a tail section removably engageable in said ratchet teeth.

WILLIAM S. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

